Waking in her hotel room a week later, she gets up and dressed in her usual red dress with yellow flowers. She smiles and greets the monsters who wave and say hello when she passes the hallways, heading to the Lobby. When entering, she notices the arrivals of friends of both her own and Drac. Frankenstein, along with his wife, Eunice, Murray, and his girlfriend(?), Wayne, his wife, Wanda, and their dozen of pups, along with Griffin, who was only visible to others by his glasses. However, Maria could see his fire-like red hair, and his freckle-clad face ever since they first met one another. She could see any creature, big or small, visible or not. It was apart of her gift. She greeted them all with small hugs before making her way to her God-daughter's room. Drac told her that he'd see the teen later, so she took this time to talk with the girl. She could hear the young teen pace as she plays out how she wants an argument with Drac to go.

Maria/La Muerte

"'But Mavey-Wavey, your too young to go out in the world alone. Bleh-Bleh-Bleh'." She imitates. "I know dad, but I'm 118, and you promised."

"You know... I was the one to start the whole 'Bleh-Bleh-Bleh' saying. I had gotten in a fight with your father and told the humans a few minor rumors. They took it from there and Drac was none the wiser that it was me."

"Auntie Maria." Mavis greets, surprised to see me sitting on her closed coffin. "I didn't hear you come in... how's your stay so far?"

"It's been horrifying." I say in a good way. "What's bothering you, my little murciélago diablo? Is it your party tomorrow?"

"No... it's just, this year I really want to go out, see the world like my parents did..." she explains softly. "But I know dad won't let me..."

"I don't know, it sounds like a pretty convincing argument you were practicing a moment ago, my murciélago diablo." I brush a lock of her black hair from her eyes. "Your father loves you, he wants the best for you, don't forget that. Sometimes the best in his eyes isn't the best in yours, and you will just have to explain that to him. Trust me, I'll make him let you go out into the world. You deserve it, and your mother would think so if she was here, I'm sure of it, Mavis." I explain softly.

"Have you... have you or Xibalba seen her spirit yet?" Mavis asks softly.

"No... but that doesn't mean she disappeared, it could mean she was reincarnated into someone else. We'll find out in all due time..." I kiss her forehead. "Now I need to head into town to collect a few things."

"Okay. Maybe if all goes right, I'll see you there?" She offers.

"I hope so. There are many places I'd love for you to go, along with friends you should meet." I tell her as I open her balcony doors. "I'll be back soon." She nods before I leave in my usual flurry of petals. I head for the human town and see two men with red firey hair, entering an older man's home where he tells stories of the Hotel. I land before the woman from the day I arrived a week ago, Madeline.

"Madeline, I apologize for not having come to town for this past week, I didn't want any panic from either human nor monster. How've you been?" I ask the woman who holds a tray of sugar skulls up for me.

"Oh, you know, busy, the festival is only a day away. It's okay if you can't visit often, everyone understands you're trying to keep peace between Monsters and Humans. There are two foreigners visiting though. They went into Louie's home though. They wanted to hear his stories of the haunted forest and the Hotel." She explains as we sit outside together. I was in my 'human' form due to there being outsiders here now.

"It's wonderful that you are doing good. I'll be sure to talk Drac into letting Mavis come down, possibly for the festival, or to meet you at night."

"I would love that." Madeline says happily. "I'll even make that cheese you told me she likes. What was it called again?"

"Scream cheese. It's not something you've made before, but here's the recipe." I hand her a card with the recipe before standing up, noticing the two foreigners were gone now. I change my form before looking down at the kind woman. "Farewell, Madeline, I will visit tomorrow."

"Goodbye, Maria. I'll wait till then." She hugs me before I disappear and reappear at the Hotel. I notice the arrivals of some skeleton family's, and some gremlins and big foots as well. "Drac, I'll help you with check ins."

"Oh, thank you, Maria, your too kind." He says dramatically as he sighs in relief. We start checking everyone in before Drac drifts to go converse with the guests while I continue behind the counter. I heard the swinging doors go fast and looked up to see Drac in it with two people before they get out on the other side before coming back in and slamming the door of a closet.

"What are you up to, Dracula?" I mumble to myself before letting the zombies take my spot as I teleport into the closet.

"Ooooh. Pretty petals." Someone says as Drac plucks a floating petal from the air. "That's some cool magic trick, Lady." The boy says. I look at him to see it's one of the red haired human foreigners from earlier. "Woah... nice Day of the Dead makeup, you look like the woman, La Muerte."

"You fool! She is!" Dracula yells. Now, we need to make you look like a convincing monster to get you out of here..."

"Oh come on Drac, I've been trying to tell you, humans aren't the horrible creatures we once knew." I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose as he starts to push and pull a disguise onto the two red haired human males. One was a Frankenstein costume type or disguise while the other, Drac couldn't decide.

"Ugh, Maria, help me, please!" Drac pleads as he searches for the taller, and probably older, human's costume. "I can't find anything for him!"

"Here. Allow me." I swing an arm and he is engulfed by petals, making his outfit change into a dark blue hoodie with jeans, the hood up and the visible skin is painted to look like it's his skeleton. It's not like the skeletons in the Hotel, since they like a more... natural lifestyle(they're nude?) "Drac, Allie me to introduce you to my add on to Mavis' party, Mr... I beg your pardon, I didn't catch your names."

"Oh, I'm Johnathan Loughran, I go by Johnny, and this is my older brother, William." The shorter and younger of the two introduces, holding out a hand.

"Ugh!" Drac exclaims in disgust almost. "That is no way to great the great La Muerte!" He exagerates. "Watch and learn! You'll need the lesson."

"Drac, it's fine, it is the 21st century after all." I sigh as he bows in greeting.

"Nonsense!" He stands straight. "Take note!" He bows. "You bow to the lady, take her hand gently as you state your name and ask for her own, and then give a small kiss to her hand before straightening your posture!"

"Drac!" I exclaim as I push him away playfully. "Now, boys, you'll be known as Johnnystein, and William Rivera." I tell them with a smile. Not meeting William's faze until now. I watch as my vision turns purple for a moment, seeing the same thing happen to him. "Ah, we must hurry now, Drac."

"Right! Right! Of course." He nods, not seeing what had just transpired before him. William says nothing, and I am glad he says nothing. "Johnnystein, you will be with me, we need to hurry you home, Maria, can you take care of William?" He asks before whispering. "I think Johnny will be a problem if I have to deal with them both."

"Of course, old friend." I smile, placing a hand on William's shoulder, guiding him from the closet and into the lobby where there are more monsters. "Stick close, do not stray, young human."

"Yes ma'am." He nods nervously, probably knowing the situation he is in, better than his brother. "Are they real... monsters?"

"Please, call me Maria. And yes, of course. Do not worry, they aren't all bad." I watch as Quasimodo and his rodent are with Drac and Johnny.

"La Muerte!" Wanda shouts, Wayne and their kids behind her as she wobbled closer to where me and William stop in the lobby.

"Oh, Wanda, my dear, you are positively glowing." I smile softly at her as the other pups run around me happily, less chaotic since they fear my wrath. The only girl of the pack of pups tugs at my long red dress and I pick her up, placing her on my hip. "You should be resting up, dear."

"Oh, you know I wouldn't miss chatting with you, La Muerte." Wanda smiles as Wayne places a hand/paw(?) on the small of her back.

"Who's this, Maria?" Wayne asks, bringing his wife and childrens' attention to William beside me. "He's not a suitor or anything, right?"

"Oh, spirits, no." I chuckle, placing a calming hand to Williams shoulder. "This is my plus one, William Rivera, he's a new spirit in my realm."

"Oh? You've never brought any plus ones before? Unless, of course, it was to visit a loved one." Wanda says softly as their sons sniff William.

"Oh, why, yes, he is actually... he's the dead friend of..." I trail off, thinking.

"Johnnystein!" William exclaims. The pups jump and bark and growl at his loud voice. Wanda and Wayne look at him confused. "I mean..."

"It's a long story, I'm sure you'll meet Johnnystein later. We must be going now. Come, William, we have matters to attend to." I grab the cuff of his hoodie and pull him behind me as we make our way upstairs, staying clear of Drac, Johnny, and Mavis. I bring him to an empty room.

"I'm sorry, I just thought you were in need of help, and they were looking as though they were getting impatient and I just..."

"It's fine William. You did well." I cup his face in my hands to try to calm him. The paint on his face doesn't smudge due to my magic. Only I or William can remove it if we want to. "You did good, young man."

"T-thanks..." I see his face tint a bit to a pink color before I hear Drac and Johnny slam the door to the room shut behind them.

"Boys." I greet, going to Drac as he paces and Johnny freaks, assuming Drac will drink his blood. "I should go check on the party preparations."